
via Getty
DENVER, CO – APRIL 26: Austin Rivers #25 of the Denver Nuggets looks to pass the ball against the Memphis Grizzlies during the fourth quarter at Ball Arena on April 26, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by C. Morgan Engel/Getty Images)

via Getty
DENVER, CO – APRIL 26: Austin Rivers #25 of the Denver Nuggets looks to pass the ball against the Memphis Grizzlies during the fourth quarter at Ball Arena on April 26, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by C. Morgan Engel/Getty Images)
Austin Rivers is following in the footsteps of Gilbert Arenas! Recently, the former Rockets guard showed up on ESPN’s The Pat McAfee Show to share his insights about the NBA. Meanwhile, he kicked the hornet’s nest by comparing the NFL and NBA. “I could take 30 players right now in the NBA and throw them in the NFL. You cannot take 30 NFL players and put them in the NBA,” he said.
Guess what? Within minutes, he became part of every other news headline and meme on social media. Not only this, his bold statement led to a fervent online debate between NBA and NFL spectators. And the three-time All-Star also chimed in. He sat with the team of No Chill Gil and recorded his response, which was later posted on his official YouTube account with the title, “Shaq vs. Sharpe Feud: MVP Comments Spark Firestorm.”

USA Today via Reuters
Jan 2, 2021; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oladipo (4) and New York Knicks guard Austin Rivers (8) go for a loose ball in the fourth quarter at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Unexpectedly, Gilbert Arenas, being an NBA player, favored Austin Rivers. He said, “That’s great footwork, great at moving three steps to the side with some right and left. That lets you know right there, a guy who’s never played your sport, you can use him. You can really take him one year, right, train him for a year, and then be ready to play, possibly, because you put you have a position for and you can we can’t do that.”
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While agreeing to some facts, he justified his take, “Our skills started from when we were 10, just like you know some of you guys this footwork, you can’t, you can’t, you can’t teach us to be Patrick Mulholland, you can’t teach us to be Brady at this game, you can’t teach us even have ultra single feet, but you can say all right, just take off running, catch some s**t, we can do that. We can run your DBs.” But the debate is not over yet.
Austin Rivers’ take on James’ criticism
After hearing the 31-year-old’s bold claim, James Jones immediately chimed in to bash Rivers. “Let’s just get this straight, No. 1, they put a flop rule in the NBA because you guys are soft…If you said one dude, or maybe Anthony Edwards could play safety or something like that, I’d have listened to you. You said 30 dudes — no,” said Jones.
Moving on, Rivers once again dived into the controversy and tweeted, “Been just sitting back listening to the chatter. But I can’t help myself sometimes lol. James Jones…(the packer guy) I have never heard of you. But listen here ya little meat head…fall back lol. Talking about “you barely made it in the nba”…bro I was lottery pick who has already played 11 years. You played 8/9 seasons in the NFL. Make it make sense. By your own logic you really barely made it. You sound salty. Beat it.” Now, the question is: Will James respond to Rivers’ hilarious tweet?
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